After Chris Tanev practiced with the team Tuesday, neither he nor coach Pete DeBoer tipped their hand as to his status for Wednesday's game.

When the Dallas Stars traded for Chris Tanev just days before the trade deadline, they were looking for more consistency, better shot-blocking and a toughness that hasn't always been present on the defense this season.

Tanev has more than filled the bill in all those areas. Since officially joining the team less than a week after the trade, the 6-foot-2, 193-pound defenseman is a major reason why the Stars clinched a playoff spot and are in the driver's seat to win both the Central division and a President's Trophy.

That optimism turned to concern last Saturday during the final game of the Stars' four-game road trip against the Seattle Kraken.

Less than 20 seconds into the third period with Dallas leading 1-0, Tanev took a hit from Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson that caused Tanev's right arm to be pinned along the boards.

Tanev immediately went to the dressing room for treatment. He briefly returned to action only to come out again a short time later.

Larsson was assessed a five-minute major for elbowing along with a game misconduct. The Stars capitalized eight seconds into the power play when Joe Pavelski made a shot from the slot after taking a rebound off a misdirection to give his team a 2-0 lead. The Stars would go on to blank Seattle 3-0 for their seventh consecutive win.

"It was an awkward hit," Tanev said after participating in practice Tuesday. "It was a weird motion going in on the boards like that, but it's good to be out there today, taking it day-by-day."

The team must have breathed a sigh of relief when Tanev was the first player on the ice Tuesday, after being evaluated following the Stars' return home. He participated in penalty and other drills alongside Esa Lindell, whom he's been mostly paired with since coming to Dallas.

As for his status for Wednesday night's home game against the Edmonton Oilers, Stars coach Pete Deboer wasn't willing to tip his hand one way or the other.

"He skated, he looks good, so we'll see," DeBoer said after practice. "You always withhold all your lineup decisions until (game time). You get to this time of year and a lot of guys are dealing with little things."

Even Tanev was mum on how his arm felt or whether he would play.

"I'm not going to tell you guys," he said when asked by reporters. "If you can play, you play. That's how the game works, right?"

Like most players, Tanev is no stranger to major injuries. During a game against the New Jersey Devils in March 2019 while with the Vancouver Canucks, Tanev blocked a shot from the Devils' Adam Palmieri and left the game with a lower-body injury. After unsuccessfully attempting to skate during a TV timeout, Tanev was put in a walking boot and missed the remainder of the season.

DeBoer wasn't all that surprised when Tanev tried to return during Saturday's game or that he was at practice Tuesday.

"You listen to the guys in Calgary when he was playing there, everyone admired his courage and his durability and his willingness to play through pain, block shots and do whatever it took," DeBoer said. "I think (Saturday) was a perfect example of it. Most guys wouldn't have come back in that game. Not only did he come back, he came back and played. Most guys wouldn't be out here at practice today."

The Stars are already down one defenseman. Jani Hakanpaa is recovering from a lower-body injury and has done some skating. According to DeBoer, Hakanpaa is close but not quite ready to return.

The Stars are keeping their fingers crossed that Tanev won't miss any time. They will certainly need him with big matchups against Edmonton and the Colorado Avalanche this week, not to mention the postseason.

Make sure you bookmark THN's Dallas Stars site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

Highlight Hat Trick: A Marchment Milestone, Benn Does It Again, Pavelski's Power Play

Stars Complete Sweep of Four-Game Road Trip with Shutout Over Seattle

Is the Real Jake Oettinger Back?

Stars Defeat Canucks, Clinch Playoff Spot

• undefined